HC Deb 23 January 1918 vol 101 cc963-4
12. Mr. HOUSTON

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number and class of German war vessels which bombarded Yarmouth on or about the night of 15th January?

Mr. G. LAMBERT

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the species of hostile craft that attacked Yarmouth on the 15th January last?

Dr. MACNAMARA

A report. received from one of our patrol vessels off Yarmouth indicates that the vessels which attacked that town were torpedo-boat destroyers. The number of vessels is unknown.

Mr. HOUSTON

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is reported that the enemy destroyers numbered four; and, seeing the repeated attacks on the East Coast and North-East Coast by enemy raiders, who invariably escape, will he say, who is in command of the East and North-East Coast, and who is responsible?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I am not aware of the statement that. the enemy destroyers numbered four. I have not seen that statement. I have given the statement from the responsible officer, of whom I inquired. With regard to the latter part of the hon. Member's question, if the suggestion that I should give the name of the responsible officer implies a. dereliction of duty on his part, I think that is particularly ungracious and ungrateful of the hon. Member.

Mr. HOUSTON

I protest against these remarks. I was asking who is responsible for this, and we are entitled to know.

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member must give himself the trouble of putting down some of these extra questions. If he has these questions in his mind and wants to ask them, he can always put them on the Paper.

Mr. HOUSTON

On a point of Order. You ruled on Monday that. the object of questions is to enable facts to be elicited. I had not anything in mind until I heard what the right hon. Gentleman said about it.

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Gentleman asked who was in command, and that is a question which he can put on the Paper, if he wishes to know it.

Mr. LYNCH

May I ask why private Members are to be debarred during questions from any displays of emotion, while they may be indulged in so freely on the: Front Bench?